Ash hopper



Oct. 11, 1932.

Filed June 4. 1928 H.E.PRESTON ASH HOPPER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. ll, 1932. H. E. PRESTON 1,882,445

ASH HOPPER Fld June 4, 1928 e SheetS-Sheet 2 Oct. ll, 1932. H, -p s-ro 1,882,445

ASH HOPPER Filed June 4. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invenn %mam/tr Oct. ll, 1932. H. E. PRESTON ASH HOPPER Filed June 4, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 11, 1932. H E. PRESTON I 3 1 5 ASH HOPPER Filed June 4, 28 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. ll, 1932. H. E. PRESTON 1,382445 ASH HOPPER Filed June 4. 1928 6 Sheets-Shet 6 ITu/6713073 Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT E. PBESTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO AMERICAN ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF PHILADELP HIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA ASH HOPIEB Application filed June 4, 1928. Serial No. 2S2,776.

My invention relates to hoppers, and it has for one object the provision of a hopper especially applicable to furnaces employing stoker apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hopper Construction that 'shall be characterized by its large storage Capac ty, yet relatively small dimensions afordng maximum head room; 'and by the ease and cheapness with which repairs may be made.

A further object of my invention s to provide a hopper with means, whereby the dripping of drainage therefrom onto the power-house floor may be prevented, the means being so designed as to prevent the clogging thereof bv the refuse material, as well as to afiord minimum resistance to the discharge of refuse material from the hopper when the gates are opened.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a hopper with means whereby the escape of dust therefrom, when the gates are closed, may be prevented.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means wherebv a hopper gate may be positively opened, maintained in this position and then positively closed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means, whereby a pluralty of hopper sections may be selectively operated, so that maximum fiexibility of control may be afforded the operator. i

WVith these and other objects and applications in mind, my invention further consists in the details of Construction and operation, hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fg. l is a view, partiallv in Vertical section and partially in elevation, of a furnace installation embodying my invention;

F 2 is a side elevational View of a hopper wherein three sections are employed;

Figt 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing one of the end walls of the right-hand hopper section of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fiat 4::

F ig. 6 is a sectional view through the cont-rol box, showing the motor gear in its advanced position, wherein the friction disk, the friction washers, the ratchet wheel, and the motor gear are caused to turn as one; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken through the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1, a furnace installation 1 is provided with an inclined, underfeed stoker 2 which extends downwardly and rearwardly from a front wall 3 in the direction of a rear wall 4, but is spaced therefrom to 'provide an ash pocket 5. The bottom wall of the pocket 5 is provided with grinding :apparatus '6. Directly beneath the apparatus 6 and extending across the .ash pocket 5 is an ash hopper 7. The hopper 7 is Suspended from a pair of spaced cross-- beams 8 and 9, the ends of which are' respectively mounted in the furnace side walls. hopper 7 is spaced from a floor surface 12 of the power-house so as to provide a desired head room therebetween, permitting a car 13 to be 'moved directly under the ash ho per 7, so that refuse material therein may e discharged into said car 13, all as will appear in greater detail. I 4

As shown in Fig. 2, the ash hopper 7 may comprise three sections, viz., 14, 15 and 16. The number of sections, as well as the individual dimension of each section, Varies in accordance with the number of retorts in the.

substantially vertical end walls 19 and 21.

A bottom wall 22 provides a support for the refuse when the hopper is being filled. An

upper side 23 of the hopper section 14 is open, and is adapted to receive the ashes assing through the grinding structure 6. 'I

A bottom wall portion 11 of the he side wall 17 is provided with a pair of upper sections 24, 25 and a pair of lower sections 26, 27, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. The section 24 is provided with horizontal flanges 28 and 29 at the upper and lower edges thereof and side fianges 31 and 32 at the opposite side edges thereof. These fianges are positioned on an outer eXposed side 33 of the sect ion 24 and are interconnected by intersecting'vertical and horizontal flanges 34 and 35, respectively.

The upper side wall section 25 is similarly provided With upper and lower horizontal flanges 36 and 37 and vertical side fianges 38 and 39. The upper horizontal flanges 28 and 36 are extended inwardly to provide fiange portions 41, as shown in Fig. 4. These flanges are bolted to a lower horizontal flange 42 of the main supporting cross-beam 8.

n The adjacent verticalfianges 31 and 38 of the upper sections 24 and 25 are bolted or otherwise secured together, so that the upper pair of sections 24 and 25 constitute a rigid structure. The lower sections 26 and 27 are provided with upper horizontal flange portions 43 and 44 which are bolted to the ange portions 29 and 37, respectively. The lower pair of sections are also provided with curved flanges 45, asshown in Fig. 4. These fianges are in alignment and constitute a bottom edge of the side wall 17.

Under some circumstances, 'the temperature of the ashes supplied to the hopper structure 7 is so high as to necessitate protection i'cr the metallic side wallsthereof. Accordingly, one form of refractory lining 46 may be provided, as shown in Fig. 4, Wherein ,a plurality of refractory blocks 47 are mounted on an inner side of the wall 17 by bolts 48, the heads of which are directly accessible from the outer side of the wall 17. Theopposite side wall 18 is constructed in the same manner as the side wall 17 just described and is similarly provided with a refractory lining 49. One of the upper sections 51 of the side ,wall 18, however, may be provided with ar, opening 52 for a pipe 53 which leads from a hopper 54 ,positioned under the stoker 2 and adapted to receive siftings therefrom.

' 2 The passage of siftings from'the hopper 54 through the pipe 53 may be facilitated by means of a pipe 55 leading to a source of compressed air.

The end wall 21 of the ash hopper section 14 is constructed somewhat similarly to the in Figs. 2 and 5. Opposite edges 63 and 64 are bolted to the fiange portions 39 of the upper sections of the side walls 17 and 18,

' respectively. Adjacent vertical edge portions of the sections 56 and 57 are provided with abutting flanges 65 and 66 which are bolted together. Upper horizontal flange portions 67 and 68 of these sections are bolted at their ends to the cross-beams 8 and 9. The lower end wall sections 58 and 59 are bolted at their side edges 69 and 71 to adjacent fiange portions 72 of the lower sections of the. side Walls 17 and 18, respectively. Adjacent vertical edges of the sections 58 and 59 are provided with fianges 73 and 74 which are secured together by bolts 75.

Lower edges 76 and 77 of the sections 58 and 59 are formed as shown, in Fig. 4, each edge having' a curved portion 78 and a flat portion 79. As in the case of the side walls 17 and 18, a refractory lining 81 comprising a plurality of blochs 82 may be bolted or otherwise Secured to the inner side of the end wall 21. The' opposite end wall 19 is similar in Construction to the wall 21 just described. The angled portions 62 oi" adj acent end walls assures a space 83 between successive hopper sections for apparatus to be presently described.

The bottom wall 22 comprises a pair ot' gate sections 84 and 85. which extend beyond the end walls 19 and 21. The end portions of the gate section 84 are respectively se= cured to arcuate edge portions 86 and 87 (Fig. 2) of a pair of supporting members 88 and 89, which are pivotally mounted on pins 91 and 92 respectively carried by the sections 58 of the end walls 21 and 19 respectively. The gate 84 is provided with a curved portion 93, which is concentric with the pins 91 and 92 and which project beyond the lower edge portion 45 of the side wall 17 when the gate is in the closed position ofFig. 4. The gate 84 is also provided i i;

with a relatively fiat portion 94 which is complementary to the edge portion 79 of the lower end wall sections 58. The gate portion 93 is also curved complementary to the curved portion 78 of the end wall sections 58.

A spring sealing plate 95 is secured to an outer edge portion 96 of the gate section 84, and it abuts against the lower edge 45 of the side wall 17 when the gate section 84 is in its closed position afiording a spring connection thercwith. A' portion of the scaling plate which 'engages the wall edge 45 is preferably curved, as shown in Fig. 4. In this mannerthe passage of dust frornthe hopper section 14 between the side wall 17 and the gate 84 is prevented. The opposite gate section is identical in Construction to the gate section 84 and it is similarly mountcd on pivoted supporting members 97 carried by the end wall section 59. The pair of pivoted supporting members 88, 97 at each end of the gate sections 84, 85 are interconnected by meshing gear segments 98, 99, whereby a movement' of the gate section 84 may cause the simultaneous movement of the gate section 85. The gate section is provided with a sealing plate 101 which co-operates with a lower edge 102 of the side wall 18 so as to prevent the escane of dust therebetween when the gate 85 is closed.

My invention further contemplates the provision of means, whereby water entering the hopper section 14 through spray pipes 103 and 104 (Figs. 4 and 5) may be prevented from leaking from the hopper onto the floor surface 12, as would occur in the structures of the pror art. To this end, I provide a drainage trough 105 which extends between the end walls 19 and 21. One end is provided with an opening' for a spray nozzle 106 from which fluid supplied through' a pipe 107 may be discharged with a desired force. The pipe 107 is connected to a main supply pipe 108, the latter being also connected to the spray pipes 103 and 104. An opposite end of the trough 105 is provided with an outlet 109. The trough 105 is provided with side walls 110 and 111 which are interconnected by a plurality of trans` versely ext-ending, long'itudinally spaced stifiening ribs 112. The side walls 110 and 111 are positioned in engagement with longitudinal fianges 113 and 114 of the gate seetions 84 and 85 when the latter are in their closed position. These flanges are preferably fiared outwardly, as shown in Fig. 4.

The edge portions of the gates 84 and 85 adjacent to the side walls 110 and 111 are provided with projecting portions 115 and i 116 which overhang upper edges 117 and 118 o'E the side Walls 110 and 111, so that drainage from the hopper section 14 may be caused to pass directly into the trough 105 and not onto the edge portions 117 and 118 thereof. Thus, leakage from the hopper section 14 on the power-house floor surface 12 when the gates 84 and 85 are closed is eflectively prevented.

In order to prevent the clogging of the trough 105 by the refuse material which is present both under conditions of storage and discharge, I provide deflecting means 119 which comprises a screen plate 121 and a bridge plate 122. The screen plate 121 is of inverted U-shape, Opposite sides 123 and 124 of which are provided with slots 125 extending upwardly from lower edges 126 and 127, respectively. The edges 126 and 127 slidably engage the adjacent longitudinal edge portions 115 and 116 of the gate sections 84 and 85 when the latter are in their closed position. Should the screen plate 121 fail to prevent the passage of undesirable material into the drain trough 105 to the desired extent, then the deflecting or bridge plate 122 of the screen plate 121, while outwardly and downwardly'flared sides 132 and 133 are spaced from the sides 123 and 124 of the screen plate by spacing angles 134 and 135 respectvely carriecl by the side walls '132 and 133. Lower edges 136 and 137 of the bridge plate 122 are spaced from inner sides 138 and 139 of the gate sections 84 and 85 just sufllciently to permit the passage of drainage therebetween but substantially no refuse material. Such drainage passes over the projccting edge portions 115 and 116 of these gate sections into the trough 105.

The bridge plate 122 extends between the inner sdes of the end walls 19, 21 but the screen plate 121 extends through openings 141 and 142 which are fermed in central portions of the end walls 21 and 19 immediately adjacent to the lower edge thereof. The screen plate 121 may be boltecl to lower portions 143 of the end wall fianges, as shown in Fg. 3. The screen plate 121 terminates in end walls 145 and 146 which are respectively disposed in alignment with end walls 147 and 148 of the drainag-e trough 105. The end walls 145 and 147 are provided with outwardly extending lugs 149 and 151 which are apertured to receive a bolt 152, whereby one end of the trough 105 may be detachably secured to the screen plate 121. The opposite pair of walls 146 and 148 are provided with a similar detachable connection 153 permitting the supporting of the other end of the trough 105 on the screen plate 121 while permittng ready removal thereof when desired.

My inventi on still further embodies means, um

155 is operatively associated with the hop-` per sections 14, 15 and 16 through individual actuating means 157, 158 and 159. The individual Operating means 157 comprises a pair of clutch members 161 and 162 which are slidably keyed to the shaft 155 and adapted to co-act with complementary clutch parts 163 and 164 of gear-wheels 165 and 166 loosely mounted on the shaft 155. The gearwheels 165 and 166 mesh with segments 167 and 168 detachably secured to thecurved portion 93 of the gate section 84. The clutch parts 161 and 162 are connected to shifting levers 169 and 171 which are pivotally mounted at their upper -ends on a longitudinally-extending beam 172. A link 173 serves to connect the corresponding lower ends of these levers. One of the shifting right so as to efiect the engagement of the clutch parts, then the gate section 84 is operated. The teXent of movement of the gate sections 84 and 85 is controlled by means of limit-switch apparatus 175, of which Fig.

1 3 is an end elevational view. This apparatus comprises a limit-switch 176, and a pair of steps 177 and 178, the stop 177 serving to operate the switch 17 6 when the gate is moved into its desired closed position and the stop 178 functioning to operate the switch 176 when the gate is moved into its maximum open position. The limit-switch 176 controls the energization of the driving motor 154 through the usual wiring connections (not shown). The individual Operating means 158 and 159 for the hopper sections and 16 are identical in all respects with the individual Operating means 157 for the hopper section 14, and are provided with u clutch-controlled gearing 179 and 181, re-

spectively, operated by hand-control levers 182 and 183.

The handle 174 is further provided a control switch 184 having push buttons 185 and 186. Th-ese buttons are connected in circuit with the motor 154 by wiring (not shown) in such manner as to permit the switch button 185 to control the starting of the motor 154 and the switch button 186 to control the reversing thereof. An intermediate button 187 may be provided for stopping the motor 154 while Operating in either direction. The hand-control' levers 182 and 183 for the hopper sections 15 and 16 are respectively provid-ed with control switches 188 and 189, which also control the starting, stopping and reversing of the motor 154. In this manner, the operation of the hoppers 14, 15 and 16 may be selectively controlled, each hopper having its own individual clutch-shitting lever and control switch.

As noted above, a still further feature of the present invention is the provision of imeans, whereby the gates for the hopper sections 14, 15 and 16 may be positively opened, maintained in this position and then positively closed. The gates being locked in any `predetermined position upon the failure of the driving motor 154. To this end, T provide the speed-control boX, of which Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views. The motor 154 is provided with a pinion 191 which meshes with a motor gear-wheel 192 mounted on a threaded portion 193 of a brake shaft with 194. A clutch 'plate 195 is keyed to the brake shaft 194 and extends into a pocket 196 formed on the motor gear-wheel 192 said plate limiting the aXial movement OI the wheel in one direction on the shaft. tion disk 197 is keyed on the brake shaft 194 and it is provided with a recess 198 adapted to receive a hub portion 199 of the motor gearwheel 192.

The friction disk 197 and the motor gearwheel 192 are provided with spaced annular faces 201 and 202 which respectively engage friction washers 203 and 204. A ratchet wheel 205 is positioned between the washers 203 and' 204 and it is looseiy mounted on the hub portion 199 of the motor gear-wheel 192. The ratchet wheel 205 co-acts with a pawl 206 having a friction mounting, as shown in Fig; 7, on a shaft 207. The pawl 206 is so designed that it is moved into looking relation with the ratchet wheel 205, when the shaft 207 is turned by the weight of the gate sections, as will presently appear, but oppositely moved when the motor 154 operates to open the hopper gates. The brake shaft 194 is connected by a pinion 208 to a driven gearwheel 209 mounted on the shaft 207 and the shaft 207 is further connected by gear-wheel mechanism 211 to the single main Operating shaft 155.

Assuming, for example, that it is desred to open the gate sections 84 and of the hopper section 14, the handle 174 is moved to the right, causing the engagement of the clutch parts 161, 163 and 162, 164. The starting button 185 of the control switch is then actuated to cause `the energization of the motor 154 and the turning of the gear-wheel 191 6). The gear-wheel 191 turns in such direction as to cause a clockwise movement of the motor gear-wheel 192. Such movement causes the motor gear-wheel 192 to move along the threaded portion 193 of the brake shaft 194 until the friction disk 197, the friction washers 203, 204 and the ratchet wheel 205 are rigidly clamped together. Since the friction disk 197 is keyed to the brake shatt 194, the driving pinion 208 now turns and with it the gear-wheel 209 and mechanism 211 connecting the same with the shatt 155. During this operation, the pawl 206 is moved away from the ratchet wheel 205 by reason of the frictional mounting thereof. Since the' control clutches are closed, the turning of the shaft 155 causes the movement of the gate sections 84 and 85 into their open positions, permitting the discharge of the refuse :trom the hopper seetion 14 into the car 13 (Fig. 1). During this -i discharge movement, the drain trough is shielded by means of the bridge plate 128 and the hopper screen plate 121. Should the gate sections 84 and 85 open beyond a predetermined extent, the stop 178 engages the A fric- "switch 176, resulting in the stopping of the motor 15 1.

hen it is desired to close the gate sections 84 and 85, the button 186 is operated. The motor gear-wheel 192 is now turned in a counter-clockwise direction, causing a movement of the same along the threaded portion 193 of the brake shaft 194: away from the friction disk 197, thereby loosening the connection therewith. The parts are so designed that a fraction of a turn of the motor gearwheel 192 reduces the frictional relation between the parts 192, 197, 203, 204: and 205 sufiiciently to permit the gate sections 84 and 85 to close. Such movement, however, causes the turning of the brake shaft 194: in a counter-clockwise ,direction with the result that the mot-or gear-wheel 192 is moved in the direction tending to lock the clutch parts in frictional engagement. Thus, the motor 154 turns the motor gear-wheel 192 in the direction that tends to keep it away from the frietion disk 197, while the pull of the load tends to cause a reverse movement of the motor gear-wheel 192. The ratchet wheel 205 during this operation is maintained in a rigid position between the two turning members 192 and 197 by reason of the fact that the pawl 206 engages the same, thereby providin the necessary friction for controlling the closing speed of the gate sections. It is noted that the pitch of 'the threads on the portion 193 of the brale shaft 194 is such that the relative speed of the friction disk 197 and .the motor gear-wheel 192 is such as to maintain a desired degree of pressure between these parts, so that the gates are under perfeet control.

If the operator should fail to actuate the stop button 187 when the gates move into the closed position, the motor 154 is deenergized by the stop 177 actuating the limit-switch 176. Should the current fail while the gatcs are part-ly closed, the weight thereof immediately causes suiicient frictional engagement between the parts 191, 197, 203, 20 1 and 205 to prevent the further movement of the gates, so that the gates are held in the open position occupied when the motor failuse occurs. Each of the gate sections for the hopper sections l and 16 may be similarly opened and closed through the control switches' 188 and 189 and the clutch-shifting handles 182 and 183, respectively.

lVhile I have shown only one form of embodiment of my invention, for the purpose of describing the same and illustrating its principles of Construction and operation, it is apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein, without departing from the spirit of my invention and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are indicated in the appended claims or as are demanded by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A hopper comprising a bottom wall provided with a pernianently fixed substantially centrally positioned drain trough and comprising at least one movable gate section adapted in its closed position to overle the trough at its lower edge.

2. A hopper provided With a pair of gate sections movable into open and closed positions, a permanently fixed drain trough positioned intermediate said sections and adapted to receive liquid from said gate sections when the latter are closed, and relatively fixed means tendng to prevent the passage of undesirable material into said drain trough.

3- A hopper provided with a permanently fixed drain trough and relatively movable gate sections positioned on opposite sides of said trough, said sections being so eXtended as to overhang the sides of said trough, so that passage of drainage into said trough may be assured, and a bafiie overlying the trough and preventing entrance thereto of undesirablematerials leaving the hopper.

4. A hopper provided with a drain trough having side Walls, a gate section movable into a closed position, said gate section having a portion adapted to overhang the adj acent side wall of said trough, so that drainage may drip into said trough clear of said last-mentioned side Wall, and means relatively fixed with respect to said trough for preventing admission thereto of undesirable materials.

5. A hopper provided with a drain trough having a side wall, a gate section movable into a closed position, said gate section having a portion adapted to overhang said side wall, so that drainage may drip into said trough clear 'of said side wall, said gate having a fiange adapted to engage said side Wall when said gate is in its closed position.

6. 'A hopper provided With a drain, a screen for said drain, and a bridge plate overlying said screen and said drain.

7 A hopper'having a bottom discharge opening and provided with a drain trough intersecting said opening 'and having an open side, a gate movable relative to said drain trough provided with a portion adapted to overhang said drain trough when said gate is in its closed position, so that drainage from said hopper may fall into said drain trough clear of the upper edge portion of the trough side wall, and shielding means for the open side of said drain trough adapted to prevent the passage of undesirable material into said trough when said gate is opened and material is discharged from said hopper.

8. A hopper provided with a pair of end walls, a drain trough positioned between said end walls, means for she-lding 'said drain trough carried by said end Walls, and means whereby said drain trough may be removably secured to said shielding means.

9. In a hopper Construction, the combinetion with a plurality of gates, of drving means therefor, means individual to each gate extending between the latter and said' driving means, and individual control means for said second-mentioned means said last-mentioned means also being adapted to control the operation of said driving means.

10. The combination witha hopper construction provided with a gate, of driving means therefor including a bralre, said brale being effective to maintain said gate in a desired position, and control means adapted to render said bralre ineflective at will.

ll. A hopper provided with a bottom opening and with a drain trough intersecting said opening, a screen spaced from the sides of said trough, and a movable closure gate for said bottom discharge opening, said gate when closed overhanging said trough and substantially filling the space between said trough and the screen.

12. A hopper having a bottom discharge opening and a drain trough intersecting said opening, a screen spaced from the side of said trough, a movable ciosure gate for said discharge opening` adapted when closed to overhang the said trough and to substantially fill the space between the trough and the screen, and a defiecting battle over-lying the screen and the trough.

13. A hopper provided with drain trough having side walls, a ate section movable into a closed position, said gate section having a portion adapted to overhang the adjacent side wall of said trough to provide for drainage to the letter, and a screen relatively fixed with respect to said trongh for preventing admission thereto of undesirable materials from the hopper.

1%. A hopper having downwardly converging bottom wails, and means for withdrawing at least one ost said walls to permit discharge ot the contents of said hopper, a trough underlying the adjacent edges of said walls, a screen member mounted above said edges for preventing passage of solids therebetween to the trough, and a bridge member overlythe screen member and having outwardly fiared side walls tending to deflect material from the screen. r

15. A hopper having an opening, a trough positioned outwardly of said opening for receiving liquids passing therethrough from the interior of the hopper, a screen member overlying said opening for preventing passage of vices for controlling the operation of said motor.

17. In a hopper Construction, the combination with a plurality of gates, of a common driving motor for said gates, and individual means associated with each of said gates for operatively connecting the latter with the motor, and means associated With each of said connecting means for controlling the operation of said motor.

18. In a hopper construction, the combina tion with a plurality of gates, of a common driving motor for said gates, a shaft connected to said motor and common to all of said gates, mechanism for operatively connecting the gates with the shaft including a clutch for each gate, individual Operating means for said clutches, and motor control means in association with each of said clutcho-perating means.

19. In a hopper Construction, the combination with a pair of gates, of a reversible motor constituti ng a common driving means for said gates, means for operatively connecting the gates individually with the motor including a clutch for each gate, individual operating means for said clutches, and means associated with each of said clutch-Operating means .tor actuating and reversing said motor.

20. In a hopper Construction, the combination With a pair of gates, of a reversible motor constituting a common driving means for said gates, means for operatively connecting the gates individually with the motor including a clutch for each gate, individual Operating means for said clutches, means associated With each of said clutch-Operating means for actuating and reversing said motor, and a limit stop associated with each of said gates and with the motor for automaticallv liniiting the eXtent of the gate movement.

HERBERT E. PRESTON.

solids therethrough to the trough, and a bridge member overlying the screen member and having outwardly fiared side walls tendto defiect material from the screen.

16. En a hopper Construction, the combination with a plurality of gate sections, of a driving motor, and means for individually operatively co-nnecting the gate sections with said motor, each of said means including de- 

